How to Change Rims on a Car

by Si Kingston

Rims help to enhance the overall appearance of your vehicle. The right set of rims can set your vehicle apart from any other vehicle on the road. You can pay a rim or tire shop to install your new rims, or you can save money by performing your own installation. Rims typically come in sizes 15, 16, 17, 18 or 20. To determine the rim size that is compatible with your tire, find the number series on the tire sidewall. The first two-digit number listed on the sidewall is the rim size of the tire.

Step 1

Lift the wheel off the ground by placing a jack under the car near the tire. Force the arm of the jack up and down until the tire is lifted off the ground.

Step 2

Remove the lug nuts from the rim with a lug wrench. Then pull the tire and rim off the hub.

Step 3

Deflate the tire. To deflate, push the pressure needle down in the valve stem. The valve stem is protrudes from the tire and is where you connect with an air hose to add air to the tire. Remove the stem cap and push down the small metal stem inside. You will hear air being released from the tire.

Step 4

Wedge a flat-head screwdriver in different spots between the tire and rim to break the seal between them.

Step 5

Slip the tire lever or pry bar between the the rim and the tire and push the lever outward to separate the rim from the tire. You may need to slip the lever in several spots around the circumference between the rim and the tire to fully separate the two. You can also ask someone to stand on top of the wheel and use the rim as leverage to pry the tire from around it.

Step 6

Pull the old rim from the tire.

Step 7

Place the deflated tire around the new rim.

Fill the tire with enough air to secure the rim within the tire circumference. There should be no gap between the inner tire and rim. Repeat this process to change other rims.

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